Apparatus for wrapping elongate articles with tape



H. SEJDA 3,418,358

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ELONGATE ARTICLES WITH TAPE Dec. 24, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1963 0 w: 3 Q i i w: l -01 M 0 a 3. J ll mm. NY v 2 Q. E \I. .QQ 0.3 m 3; K rm- 9. 5 mm. m:

m R o w m S w J W Y R N E 2 H a: Y S. B E 6. Q

AT TORNEY APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ELONGATE ARTICLES WITH TAPE Filed Apx il 5, 1963 H. JQSEJDA Dec. 24, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 (I Llll v INVENTOR HENRY J. SEJDA FIG-2.2

ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1968 H. J. SEJDA 3,418,353

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ELONGATE ARTICLES WITH TAPE Filed April 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 27 I 63 r\ ,3 0 65 w l 2! '4 3 L m 1 fi INVENTOR HEN RY J. SEJ DA ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1968 H. J. SEJDA APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ELONGATE ARTICLES WITH TAPE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 5, 1963 INVENTOR. HENRY J. SEJ DA ATTO RNEY 1968 H. J. SEJDA 3,413,358

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ELONGATE ARTICLES WITH TAPE Filed April 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HENRY J. SEJDA ATTO RNEY Dec. 24, 1968 H. .1. SEJDA 3,418,358

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ELONGATE ARTICLES WITH TAPE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 5, 1963 INVENTOR" HENRY J. SEJDA ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflice 3,418,358 Patented Dec. 24, 1968 3,418,358 APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ELONGATE ARTICLES WITH TAPE Henry J. Sejda, Munster, Ind., assignor to Cee-Kay Industries, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Iltinois Filed Apr. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 270,894 13 Claims. (Cl. 156-468) This invention relates generally to apparatus for wrapping materials such as tape about an elongate object, and has particular reference to an improved machine for wrapping a discrete length of a pressure sensitive tape about an elongate article such as a wiring harness or the like.

Apparatus according to the present invention finds particular application in wrapping a bundle of elongate materials at intervals throughout its length, an example being a wire harness or the like. It is desirable to wrap such harness in such a fashion that a lead can conveniently be extended from the wrapped bundle in a direction lateral to the main axis of the wrapped bundle. By reason of such lateral extending leads, the wrapping about the harness cannot be continuous, and moreover, the wrapping of the harness at points intermediate such leads cannot ordinarily be effected without disturbing the laterally extending leads, particularly if the entire harness must be rotated for the wrapping operation.

The apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by the use of a wrapping tape having a pressure sensitive film thereon, the wrapping tape being initially in a position across a radially extending jaw of a rotating wrapping chuck. The harness or bundle of elongate members is moved against the tape and into the slot so as to provide a starting bight of the tape about the bundle, the rotation of the chuck causing the tape to be wrapped about the bundle prior to cutoff by a tape cutting mechanism cooperating with the rotating chuck.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, it is a principal object of the invention to provide apparatus for wrapping a discrete length of tape about the bundle of elongate members such as a wire harness or the like.

Another object is to provide a wrapping structure characterized by a wrapping chuck having a radially extending jaw for receiving an elongate article, a length of the tape being first placed across the slot, so that the entrance of the article into the jaw provides a bight of the tape about the article, the rotation of the wrapping chuck being accompanied by operation of tape feeding mechanism for an additional length of tape to be in position across the open jaw of the chuck for a subsequent operation, the tape being severed by a rotating knife tool moving into rolling contact with the chuck during its operation. Such knife tool is in a rest position after severing of the tape and holding the tape in position for such subsequent operation.

Still another object is to provide wrapping structure of the kind described wherein the radial jaw of the wrapping chuck is provided with flexible article contacting members which firmly engage the tape with the article as the chuck is rotated.

A yet further object is to provide structure for a wrapping machine of the kind described effective to vary the amount of tape being fed to the wrapping chuck so as to vary the amount of tape wrapped about the article.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the following specification taken with the drawings, which together describe and illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and what is now considered to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein and such other embodiments are intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and spirit of the subjoined claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a wrapping machine having the improvements according to the present invention embodied therein;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing details of mechanism for serving a length of tape adapted to be wrapped about an elongate article such as a bundle of wire strands or the like;

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing details of a chuck for wrapping a length of tape about the elongate article;

FIG. 4 is a view, certain parts being shown in section, of cam follower structure for operating the tape severing mechanism seen in FIG. 2, said view looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 1

FIG. 5 is an elevational view, certain parts being shown in section, looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 1, showing details of drive mechanism of the apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view somewhat similar to FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view showing details of structure for controlling clutching and indexing mechanism for controlling the wrapping chuck seen in FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the wrapping chuck seen in FIG. 3, said view looking in the direction of the arrows 8-8 of FIGS. 3 and 9;

FIG. 9 is a section taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a section taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the wrapping chuck of FIG. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows 11-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view showing somewhat schematically the wrapping chuck at the start of a wrapping operation with an elongate article to be wrapped in position thereat, and showing the relation of the wrapping chuck to the tape severing mechanism at the start of the wrapping operation;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12, but showing the Wrapping chuck rotated to a position corresponding to partially complete wrap of the article, and the cutting of the tape by the severing mechanism;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, and showing the completion of the severing operation, and the tack of the tape with the knife of the severing mechanism;

FIG. l5'is a view similar to FIG. 14, but showing the wrapping operation completed about the article, and showing further the tack of the tape with the knife mechanism; and

FIG. 16 is a view showing the wrapped elongate article emerging from the jaw of the wrapping chuck, and showing the manner in which the article is moved past an already advanced length of tape in position for subsequent severing andwrapping about the elongate article at another point thereon.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF MACHINE Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the improved wrapping apparatus according to the present invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 20, and includes a base 21 supreducer mechanism 27 having an output shaft 28. A pulley 29 is fast on output shaft 28, and drives a belt 31 trained about a driven pulley 32 supported on a main driving shaft 33, and adapted to be clutched thereto by means of a single revolution one-way clutch 34.

Drive shaft 33 is supported at one end in a standard 36 held by screws 37 to the base plate 21, the other end of the shaft 33 being supported in a bushing 38 in the frame 22. Drive shaft 33 is adapted to provide intermittent rotary motion to a wrapping chuck indicated generally by the reference numeral 40, a tape severing mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 45, and a variable length tape feed mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 50, details of which mechanism will be described in more detail as this specification proceeds.

The aforesaid tape feed mechanism is thus adapted to give intermittent feed motion to a length of tape T which is supplied from a supply reel SR supported on .a bracket 41 extending from the main frame 22, as

seen in FIGS. 1 and 6.

The structure for supplying the aforesaid intermittent motion includes the clutch 34 which has an outer clutching member 42 which is fast to the pulley 32 and clutch control members 35a and 35b, and a driven clutch member 350 keyed to drive shaft 33 by key 35d. Clutch control member 35a has a pin extending therefrom, and clutching engagement beetween pulley 32 and shaft 33 is had only when no restraint is imposed on pin 44. Clutch 34 is a one revolution one-way type such as is manufactured by the Hilliard Corporation of Elmira, N.Y., and the details of operation of such clutch form no part of the invention herein, and it is sufiicient to say that any controllable one-way one revolution clutch of any other form will sufiice as well.

Clutch control member 35b is fast to the driven shaft 33 by means of a key 46, which also keys an indexing member 47 to the shaft 33. Clutch 34 is ordinarily released, except during the tape feeding, article wrapping and tape severing operations, and shaft 33 is maintained in an indexed position corresponding to an indexed position of the wrapping chuck 40 to receive an elongate article for the wrapping operation. The elongate article is referred to by the reference letter B in FIGS. 12 to 16, inclusive.

In order to provide for the proper index position of the shaft 33 and the proper index position of the wrapping chuck 40, structure is provided for disengaging the one-way clutch 34, and its driven clutch member 350, and to index the position of the index member 47 fast on driven shaft 33. To this end a push type solenoid 48 is provided, see also FIG. 7, solenoid 48 being secured to base 21 by securing screws 48a, and having an armature 49 connected to a link 51. A first pawl arm 52 is connected to link 51, and pawl arm 52 is pivotally mounted on a pin 53 extending between spaced standards 54, 54 flanking the solenoid 48. The end of pawl arm 52 is normally in engagement with pin 44 to release clutch 34, except when solenoid 48 is energized at which time pawl arm 52 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 6, when pin 44 is disengaged and clutch 34 is engaged.

A second pawl arm 61 is likewise mounted for swivelling movement about the support shaft 53, see also FIG. 7, and has an end 62 thereof adapted to engage a detent slot 63 in the indexing member 47. Pawl arm 61 is normally in a position where its end 62 engages detent slot 63 to index shaft 33 properly, at which time clutch 34 is disengaged.

Pawl arm 61 is biased in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 6 by a return spring 56 constrained between a pin 57 extending from pawl arm 61 and a pin 58 extendingfrom the right hand standard 54 seen in FIG. 7. Pawl arm 61 has a pin 67 extending therefrom which extends into a cutout portion 670 in pawl arm 52, so that the clockwise rocking movement of pawl arm 61 will rock pawl arm 52 in a similar direction. Upon energization of solenoid 48, counter clockwise rotation of pawl arm 52 will rock pawl arm 61 in a similar direction through the pin 67. The pawl arms 52 and 61 can be manually released for operation without the use of the solenoid 48, and a release lever 60 is accordingly provided. Release lever 60 is pivoted upon the frame 36 on a stub shaft 64. Release lever 60 is adapted to be rocked about the pin shaft 64 in a clockwise direction against the bias of a spring 66 connected between the release lever 60 and shaft support bracket 36. Release lever 60 has a pin 68 extending therefrom which is normally out of engagement, the pawl arms 52 and 61 at such time being urged in a clockwise direction to effect contact of pawl arm 52 with the pin 44, and engagement of pawl arm 61 with the detent slot 63. Release lever 60 can be rocked in a clockwise direction to release the engagement of pawl arms 52 and 61 to effect the driving connection between the motor 26 and the driven shaft 33, the rocking movement of arm 60 in a clockwise direction causing the pin 68 extending therefrom to move into engagement with the two pawl arms 61 and 52, at which time the driving connection is established as desired. During normal operation arm 60 is not operated, and the solenoid 48 is employed as sole control of rotation of shaft 33.

DESCRIPTION OF ARTICLE WRAPPING CHUCK Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 3 and 8 to 11 of the drawings, the article wrapping chuck 40 is mounted for rotation in a pair of spaced bearing support plates 71 and 72 secured to the main frame 22. As seen particularly in FIG. 3, the two plates 71 and 72 are held in spaced relationship by a plurality of spacer members 73, and the bearing support plates 71 and 72 are secured to the support frame 22 and the space members 73 by means of cap screws 74.

As seen in FIGS. 8 to 11, inclusive, the wrapping chuck 40 includes an essentially barrel shaped body member 75 having a radially extending elongate receiving jaw 76 adapted to receive the elongate article B, which is adapted to be wrapped with a length of tape T. The wrapping chuck 40 has a bearing member 85 with a hearing surface 77 and a further bearing surface 78 which cooperate with complimentary bearing surfaces 79 and 81 in the respective support plates 71 and 72, and as seen in FIG. 1, the support plates 71 and 72 have slots 82 therein which are arranged to provide passage for the elongate article B into the jaw 76 of the wrapping chuck 40. The ends of the chuck member 75 and the support plates 71 and 72 are flanked by guide jaws 80, see also FIG. 2, held to the support plates 71 and 72 by screws a. The size of guide jaws 80 and their position can be varied as desired according to the size of the article B.

Structure is provided for imparting rotative movement to the article wrapping chuck 40, and to this end the driven shaft 33 has a driving sprocket 83 fast thereto, see also FIG. 5. Sprocket 83 is engaged with a sprocket chain 84 which turns a driven sprocket 86 fast on a shaft 87 journalled in the spaced support plates 71 and 72, see FIG. 3. Shaft 87 can also be turned by a hand wheel 90, if desired, it motor 26 is not operating. An idler chain takeup sprocket 88 is mounted on a stub shaft 89 supported in the main frame 22, and idler sprocket 88 is arranged for movement so as to take up slack in the chain 84, since stub shaft 89 is adjustably mounted in a slot 91 in the main frame 22, see particularly FIG. 1.

A driving gear 92 for Wrapping chuck 40 is fast on the shaft 87 and meshes with a pair of idler gears 93 mounted on idler shafts 94 held at their ends in bushings 96 in the support plates 71 and 72. Idler gears 93, see again FIG. 1, mesh with a driven gear 97 fast on the chuck 40, driven gear 97 being held in position as seen in FIG. 9 between the body member 75 and bearing member by means of countersunk screws 98.

The body member 75 of wrapping chuck 40 provides a cavity 101 in which a pair of resilient fingers 102 and 103 are housed. Resilient fingers 102 and 103 are preferably made of flat clock spring stock and are secured at their ends remote from jaw 76 to the body member 75 by cap screws 104. The two spring members 102 and 103 are arranged to wrap the length of tape T tightly about the object to be wrapped as the chuck 40 rotates in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1, 8, 10 and 11.

DETAILS OF TAPE FEEDING STRUCTURE As seen particularly in FIG. 1, the tape T which is stored on the supply roll SR is adapted to be advanced by a feed roller 106 which has a knurled or other tape gripping surface. It should be borne in mind that the tape T is unreeled from supply roll SR with its pressure sensitive or adhesive surface on the upper side thereof. Feed roller 106 is mounted fast on a shaft 107 supported at one end in the frame 22 and at the other end on a bracket 108 secured by screws 109 to the frame 22. The

tape T is led from the supply roll SR around a first idler roll 111 and beneath the feed roll 106 and over spaced idler rolls 112 and 113, the rollers 111, 112 and 113 being supported on stub shafts 114 extending from the frame 22. The length of tape T is further guided under and over rolls 116 and 117 turning on pin shafts 118 extending from a slack takeup arm 119. Slack takeup arm 119 is mounted on a pivot pin 121 extending from a bracket 122 held by screws 123 to the frame 22. A torsion spring 124 is wrapped about the pin 121 supporting the takeup arm 119 on the bracket 122, and the torsion spring 124 tends at all times to rock the takeup arm 119 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1 to take up any slack of the tape T.

After thus being trained about the rollers 116 and 117 of the takeup arm 119, the tape T is trained beneath an idler roller 126 supported on a pin shaft 127 extending from a support bracket 128 extending upward from the bearing plate 71 forming one of the supports for the wrapping chuck 40. The bracket 128 also supports a second idler roller 129 mounted on a stub shaft 131 extending from the aforesaid bracket 128.

Idler roller 129 has a knurled surface which cooperates with a length of clock spring 132 supported on a block 133 secured in any convenient fashion to the support bracket 128. The knurled surface on roller 129 and clock spring 132 prevents reverse movement of roller 129. The tape T which is fed beneath the idler rollers 126 and 129 is led across a spring shelf 134 extending laterally from the bracket 128, and supported therefrom in any convenient fashion. The tape T is thus lightly constrained between knurled roll 129 and spring shelf 134, and is prevented from having reverse movement by reason of clock spring 132 and knurled roll 129.

It should be remembered that tape T has its pressure sensitive surface in contact with the idler rollers 126 and 129, said surface being uppermost as seen in FIG. 1. It should be remembered also that the arm 119 and the torsion spring 124 is operable to remove the slack from the tape T which has been advanced by the feed roller 106.

Structure is provided for giving feed movement to the roller 106 in prescribed amounts, and to this end, see FIGS. 1 and 5, drive shaft 33 has a crank member 136 mounted fast thereto by means of a key 137. Crank 136 is connected by a crank pin 138 to a connecting rod 139 pivotally connected at 141 to a rocker member 142 mounted on the shaft 107 and adapted to rock thereon. Rocker member 142 carries a pawl 143 pivotally connected at 144 to the rocker arm 142, pawl 143 cooperating with a ratchet wheel 148 fast to the feed roller shaft 107. It will be seen that the pawl 143 when engaged with the ratchet wheel 148 will turn the feed roller 106 in a clockwise direction upon upward movement of connecting rod 139 to feed a length of tape T from the supply roll SR and advance same, the slack therein being taken up by the takeup arm 119 previously described.

Mechanism is provided for varying the amount of feed movement of the feed roller 106 by determining the point at which the pawl 143 comes into contact with the ratchet wheel 148 upon upward movement of connecting rod 139. A tape feed regulating arm 149 accordingly has a hub 151 centered on the shaft 107, and hub 151 has an arcuate segment 152 of a radius greater than the radius of the ratchet wheel 148. The arm 149 is adapted to be rotated around the shaft 107, and its position is referenced with respect to a notched detent plate 153 which is secured in any convenient manner to the top of the frame 22 adjacent the feed roller 106. Detent plate 153 has a plurality of notches 154 therein, these cooperating with a detent 156 secured to the arm 149.

When the arm 149 is turned in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1, so that the detent 156 is in engagement with a detent notch 157 on the detent plate 153, the arcuate segment 152 will be in a position Where pawl 143 can engage one of the teeth of the ratchet 148 for the longest possible angular travel of ratchet Wheel 148. On the other hand, When detent arm 149 is rocked to a position with its detent 156 in engagement with a detent notch 158 on the detent plate 153, the engagement of the pawl 143 with the ratchet wheel 148 will be transferred to another point thereon by reason of the arcuate segment 152 which regulates such engagement, thereby reducing the amount of angular movement of the ratchet wheel 148 and the angular and feed movement of the feed roller 106.

DETAILS OF TAPE CUTTING STRUCTURE Structure is provided for severing a length of tape T which has been fed by the feed roller 106, and which has been wrapped about the article B inserted into the chuck 40. As will be described, in the aforesaid wrapping operation within the chuck 40, and during the wrapping operation, the tape will be wrapped to a small degree about the outer periphery of chuck 40, and while having such slight wrap about the chuck and partially complete Wrap about the article B, the tape is severed into a discrete length, and after such tape severing operation the wrapping is completed about the article B. To this end the tape severing mechanism 45 includes a tape cutting roller 161, see FIGS. 1 and 2, which is adapted to have limited rotation about a roller supporting shaft 162 supported at each end in bearing plates 163 and 164. A pivot block 166 holds the two bearing plates 163 and 164 thereto by means of holding screws 167 and 168. Thepivot block 166 is mounted for pivotal movement together with the two frames 163 and 164 on a pivot pin 171 which is supported at the ends in the frame members 71 and 72 supporting the wrapping chuck 40.

The tape cutting roller 161 supported in the bearing plate members 163 and 164 includes a cutting means in the form of a knife edge 172, as seen in FIG. 1, the knife edge 172 being adapted at times to come into contact with the periphery of the wrapping chuck 40, as seen in FIGS. 12 to 16 inclusive, with the tape T between knife edge 172 and the periphery of wrapping chuck 40. The roller 161 is adapted to have limited rotative movement in its support arms 163 and 164 when in rolling contact with wrapping chuck 40, and is arranged to be returned to a start position after its rolling contact after removal of contact therewith. To this end, roller 161 is provided with a stop finger 173. The stop finger 173 is adapted to move with roller 161 into contact with the frames 163 and 164. Roller 161 is biased in such movement to the position described with the stop 173 in contact with the arms 163 and 164 by a pair of torsion springs 174 mounted at each end of the shaft 162 supporting the knife roller 161. Torsion springs 174 have a common connecting element 176 which engages a slot 177 in the knife edge roller 161. The other end of each torsion spring 174 has a finger 178, each of which extends into a retaining hole 179 in the respective arms 163 and 164. Rolling contact of roller 161 with chuck 40 is against the bias of springs 174, so that at all times roller 161 moves rotatively only with prescribed limits.

Mechanism is provided for giving pivoting movement to the arms 163 and 164 supporting knife roller 161 so that the roller 161 can move into contact with a length of tape T having a slight wrap about chuck 40 to cut the tape into a predetermined length. Such movement of the knife roller is timed in accordance with the wrapping movement of the chuck 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and particularly, drive shaft 33 supports a cam member 181 including a hub 182 held fast to shaft 33 by a key 183. Carn member 181 affords a support for an adjustable cam plate 184 having a lobe 186 thereon. The position of cam plate 184 with respect to the cam member 181, so as to adjust the position of the lobe 186, is varied by means of cap screws 187 extending through arcuate slots 188 in cam plate 184, and tapped into the cam member 181.

Cam lobe 186 cooperates with a cam follower 189 arranged to pivot about a pin 191 supported at its end in the frame member 22, see also FIG. 4. Cam follower 189 supports a cam follower roller 192 supported on a stub shaft 193 extending from follower 189, cam roller 192 being in contact with the cam plate 184 and co-acting with the lobe 186 as seen in FIG. 1 to rock the cam follower 189 once during each revolution of shaft 33.

The two roller support arms 163 and 164 are connected for movement with cam follower 189 by means of a connector indicated generally by the reference numeral 195, and comprising an abutment member 196 connected by a pin 197, see also FIG. 2, and by a second abutment member 198 pivotally connected at 199 to the cam follower 189, there being a right and left hand adjustment member 201 connecting the two abutment members 196 and 198 to vary the distance therebetween and to control the adjustment of the knife roller 161 with respect to the Wrapping chuck 40.

OPERATION Operation of the wrapping machine according to the present invention will be best understood with reference to FIGS. 12 to l6, inclusive, which illustrate the steps of making an initial wrap of the tape about the bundle B, and completely wrapping the bundle B with tape while within the rotating chuck 40, severing a fed length of tape, maintaining the fed and unsevered tape in position for a subsequent wrapping cycle by means of the tape cutting roller, and removing the wrapped bundle B from the wrapping chuck.

FIG. 12 shows a start or index position of both the knife roller 161 and the wrapping chuck 40. In this position of roller 161 and chuck 40, the parts are immobile, and a length of tape T has started across the open jaws 76 of the chuck 40. This may be done by simply pulling on tape T and stripping same from supply roll SR. The article to be wrapped, which has been designated "by the reference letter B, may consist of a plurality of side by side wires forming a part of a wire harness or the like, or may be a group of elongate members of any kind.

As seen in FIG. 12, the bundle B is moved in a downward direction across the tape T into the jaw 76 of chuck member 75. Since the tape T has its pressure sensitive material on the upper side thereof, the tape will engage with the bundle B, the tape being forced against the bundle by means of the resilient fingers 102 and 103 seen in FIGS. 8, and 11. This downward movement of the bundle B into the chuck 75 with the initial wrap of the tape T therearound, is enabled to be done by reason of the yielding movement of the tension of the slack takeup arm 119, which is enabled to have counter clockwise movement as seen in FIG. 1 for the movement 8 of the tape T into the chuck 75. Such movement of the tape T into the chuck is done past the guide rollers 126 and 129.

With the parts in position as seen in FIG. 12, the solenoid 48 is energized, which provides a driving connection between the motor 26 and the shaft 33. The energization of the solenoid 48 causes the pawl arm 52 operated thereby to move out of engagement with the pin 44 on the clutch 34. At the same time the pawl arm 61 moves out of index position with the detent slot 63 on the member 47.

At such time the chuck 75 rotates through a number of revolutions in a counter clockwise direction to complete a wrapping operation, but at an appropriate time during such rotation as determined by the position of the cam lobe 186, the cutoff mechanism 45 is caused to rock slightly about its pivot shaft 171. During the initial movement of the knife roller 161 into contact with the periphery of the chuck 75, the knife edge 172 is out of contact with the roller 161, the knife edge 172 moving into contact with the tape T as seen in FIG. 13, to sever the tape T at the periphery of the chuck 75. When the cam lobe 186 moves past the follower roller 192, the cutoff mechanism 45 is rocked slightly in a counter clockwise direction out of contact with the periphery of the chuck 75, and the torsion springs 174 on the knife roller 161 cause same to be rotated in a counter clockwise direction on its support arms 163 and 164 until the roller 161 stops in a position as seen in FIG. 14.

Following the operations described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, chuck 40 continues to rotate in a counter clockwise direction to complete a wrapping operation about the bundle B, enough turns being provided for the chuck 75 to complete a wrapping operation on the bundle B until the same is wrapped as seen in FIG. 15.

It should be borne in mind that the solenoid 48 is energized only for a period of time sufiicient to cause the pawl arms 52 and 61 operated thereby respectively to move out of the contact with pin 44 on the clutch 34, and out of engagement with the detent slot 63 on the indexing member 47. Clutch 34, being a one revolution clutch, will give clutching engagement for one revolution of shaft 33 until pawl arm 52 comes into engagement with the pin 44, at which time the clutch is released. This release of the clutch takes place a small time interval prior to the engagement of the pawl arm 61 with the detent slot 63, at which time chuck member 75 occupies the position seen in FIG. 15.

It should be borne in mind that at the commencement of the wrapping movement of chuck member 75, and during the interval between the positions seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, the slack takeup arm 119 is rockable in a counter clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 6 to feed an additional length of tape about the periphery of chuck member 75. The length of tape to be fed by feed mechanism 50 is adjusted by means of feed ratchet mechanism previously described, and mounted upon the shaft 107 turning with the feed roller 106. Since the shaft 33 is intermittently operated, the feed movement provided by means of the crank 136 and connecting rod 139 is intermittently operated as well.

As seen in FIG. 15, at the conclusion of the wrapping operation, the additional length of tape T is across the open jaw 76 of the chuck 75, it having been advanced by means of rotation of chuck 75. By reason of the tack of the tape T it stays in contact with the knife 172 as seen in FIG. 15, across the jaw 76 of chuck member 75.

As seen in FIG. 16, the wrapped bundle B can be moved from chuck member 75 upward as seen, past the new length of tape T which lies in the path of the wrapped bundle B in its upward movement. However, and by rea son of the fact that the pressure sensitive surface of the tape T is on the upper side thereof, there is no contact of the wrapped length of tape T, and it can be moved therepast in a simple and expeditious manner. At the conclusion of the bundle removing operation, the tape falls across the open jaws 76 of chuck member 75, as seen in FIG. 12, the series of operations just described being continued once more.

The mechanism which has been described provides an efficient and useful means for wrapping elongate articles such as wire harnesses or the like at spaced intervals throughout its length.

While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment thereof, it is not intended that the invention be limited by the precise embodiment herein shown, the scope of the invention being intended to be limited only by the claims here appended.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for wrapping a length of pressure sensitive tape about an elongate article, a rotatable wrapping chuck including driving means therefor, said wrapping chuck having a radially extending jaw adapted to receive said elongate article for wrapping thereof with a length of tape while said article is constrained against rotation in said jaw, tape feeding means driven from said driving means for feeding a length of tape across said jaw, means for constraining the so fed tape as an initial bight thereof about said article when the same is moved with said length of tape into the jaw of said chuck, tape slack takeup means interposed between said tape feeding means and said chuck operable to feed additional tape during forming of said bight, said chuck being rotatable by said driving means while said article is held against rotation to effect further wrap of said article, said tape feeding means being operable by said driving means to feed tape about the periphery of said chuck, means cooperating with said tape feeding means for varying the length of the tape fed thereby, a knife supporting roller having a knife thereon including means for mounting said roller for movement toward said chuck to sever the tap fed over the periphery of said chuck, said last named means including cam and follower means coacting with said driving means for moving said knife supporting roller into contact with the periphery of said chuck in timed relation therewith to sever said tape, said driving means rotating said chuck through a distance to complete a wrapping operation of the severed tape about said article, said knife roller after the severing movement holding the tape in position releasably across the jaw of said chuck.

2. In apparatus for wrapping a length of pressure sensi tive tape about an elongate article, a rotatable wrapping chuck including driving means therefor, said wrapping chuck having a radially extending jaw adapted to receive said elongate article for wrapping thereof with a length of tape while said article is constrained against rotation in said jaw, tape feeding means driven from said driving means for feeding a length of tape across said jaw, means for constraining the so fed tape as an initial bight thereof about said article when the same is moved with said length of tape into the jaw of said chuck, tape slack takeup means interposed between said tape feeding means and said chuck and operable to feed additional tape during forming of said bight, said chuck being rotatable by said driving means while said article is held against rotation to effect further wrap of said article, said tape feeding means being operable by said driving means to feed tape about periphery of said chuck, means cooperating with said tape feeding means for varying the length of tape fed thereby, a knife supporting roller having a knife thereon including means for mounting said roller for movement toward said chuck to sever the tape fed over the periphery of said chuck, said last named means including means coacting with said driving means for moving said knife supporting roller into contact with the periphery of said chuck in timed relation therewith to sever said tape, said driving means rotating said chuck through a distance to complete a wrapping operation of the severed tape about said article, said knife roller after the severing movement holding the tape in position releasably across the jaw of said chuck.

3. In apparatus for wrapping a length of pressure sensitive tape about an elongate article, a rotatable wrapping chuck including driving means therefor, said wrapping chuck having a radially extending jaw adapted to receive said elongate article for wrapping thereof with a length of tape While said article is constrained against rotation in said jaw, tape feeding means driven from said driving means for feeding a length of tape across said jaw, means for constraining the so fed tape as an initial bight thereof about said article when the same is moved with said length of tape into the jaw of said chuck, tape slack takeup means interposed between said tape feeding means and said chuck and operable to feed additional tape during forming of said bight, said chuck being rotatable by said driving means while said article is held against rotation to effect further wrap of said article, said tape feeding means being operable by said driving means to feed tape about the periphery of said chuck, a knife supporting roller having a knife thereon including means for mounting said roller for movement toward said chuck to sever the tape fed over the periphery of said chuck, said last named means including means coacting with said driving means for moving said knife supporting roller into contact with the periphery of said chuck in timed relation therewith to sever said tape, said driving means rotating said chuck through a distance to complete a wrapping operation of the severed tape about said article, said knife roller after the severing movement holding the tape in position releasably across the jaw of said chuck.

4. In apparatus for wrapping a length of pressure sensitive tape about an elongate article, a rotatable wrapping chuck including driving means therefor, said wrapping chuck having a radially extending jaw adapted to receive said elongate article for wrapping thereof with a length of tape while said article is constrained against rotation in said jaw, tape feeding means driven from said driving means for feeding a length of tape across said jaw, means for constraining the so fed tape as an initial bight thereof about said article when the same is moved with said length of tape into the jaw of said chuck, said chuck being rotatable by said driving means while said article is held against rotation to effect further wrap of said article, said tape feeding means being operable by said driving means to feed tape about the periphery of said chuck, means cooperating with said tape feeding means for varying the length of tape fed thereby, a knife supporting roller having a knife thereon including means for mounting said roller for movement toward said chuck to sever the tape fed over the periphery of said chuck, said last named means including means coacting with said driving means for moving said knife supporting roller into contact with the periphery of said chuck in timed relation therewith to sever said tape, said driving means rotating said chuck through a distance to complete a wrapping operation of the severed tape about said article, said knife roller after the severing movement holding the tape in position releasbly across the jaw of said chuck.

5. In apparatus for wrapping a length of pressure sensitive tape about an elongate article, a rotatable wrapping chuck including driving means therefor, said wrapping chuck having a radially extending jaw adapted to receive said elongate article for wrapping thereof with a length of tape while said article is constrained against rotation in said jaw, tape feeding means driven from said driving means for feeding a length of tape across said jaw, means for constraining the so fed tape as an initial bight thereof about said article when the same is moved with said length of tape into the jaw of said chuck, said chuck being rotatable by said driving means while said article is held against rotation to effect further wrap of said article, said tape feeding means being operable by said driving means to feed tape about the periphery of said chuck, a knife supporting roller having a knife thereon including means for mounting said roller for movement toward said chuck to sever the tape fed over the periphery of said chuck, means for mounting said knife supporting roller for limited rotative movement of said roller with respect to said last named means, said last named means including means coacting with said driving means for moving said knife supporting roller into contact with the periphery of said chuck in timed relation therewith to sever said tape, said driving means rotating said chuck through a distance to complete a wrapping operation of the severed tape about said article, said knife roller after the severing movement holding the tape in position releasably across the jaw of said chuck.

6. In apparatus for wrapping a length of pressure sensitive tape about an elongate article, a rotatable wrapping chuck including driving means therefor, said wrapping chuck having a radially extending jaw adapted to receive said elongate article for wrapping thereof with a length of tape while said article is constrained against rotation in said jaw, tape feeding means driven from said driving means for feeding a length of tape across said jaw, means for constraining the so fed tape as an initial bight thereof about said article when the same is moved with said length of tape into the jaw of said chuck, said chuck being rotatable by said driving means while said article is held against rotation to effect further wrap of said article, said tape feeding means being operable by said driving means to feed tape about the periphery of said chuck, a knife supporting roller having a knife thereon including means for mounting said roller for movement toward said chuck to sever the tape fed over the periphery of said chuck, said last named means including means coacting with said driving means for moving said knife supporting roller into contact with the periphery of said chuck in timed relation therewith to sever said tape, said driving means rotating said chuck through a distance to complete a wrapping operation of the severed tape about said article, said knife roller after the severing movement holding the tape in position releasably across the jaw of said chuck.

7. In apparatus for wrapping a length of pressure sensitive tape about an elongate article, a rotatable wrapping chuck having a radially extending jaw adapted to receive said elongate article, means for feeding a length of said tape across said jaw, means cooperating with said tape feeding means for varying the length of the tape fed thereby, means within said jaw for constraining said tape as an initial bight thereof about said article when the same is moved with said length of tape into the jaw of said chuck, means for rotating said chuck while the article is held against rotation within said chuck so as to effect further wrap of said tape about said article, said chuck having a peripheral surface over which said tape is led during the rotation of said chuck, a knife supporting roller having a knife thereon including means for mounting said roller for motion toward said chuck to sever the tape led over said peripheral surface, means for moving said knife supporting roller against said chuck in timed relation thereto for rolling action of said knife into severing contact with v said tape, said knife supporting roller being adapted after severing of said tape to hold the same thereto, said means rotating said chuck being operable to complete a wrapping operation about said article, said wrapped article being removable from said chuck in a direction to release said tape from said knife supporting roller.

8. In apparatus for wrapping a length of pressure sensitive tape about an elongate article, a rotatable wrapping chuck having a radially extending jaw adapted to receive said elongate article, means for feeding a length of said tape across said jaw, means within said jaw for constraining said tape as an initial bight thereof about said article when the same is moved with said length of tape into the jaw of said chuck, means for rotating said chuck while the article is held against rotation within said chuck so as to effect further wrap of said tape about said article, said chuck having a peripheral surface over which said tape is led during the rotation of said chuck, a knife supporting roller having a knife thereon including means for mounting said roller for motion toward said chuck to sever the tape led over said peripheral surface, cam and follower means for moving said knife supporting roller against said chuck in timed relation thereto for rolling action of said knife into severing contact with said tape, said knife supporting roller being adapted after severing of said tape to hold the same thereto, said means rotating said chuck being opera-ble to complete a wrapping operation about said article, said wrapped article being removable from said chuck in a direction to release said tape from said knife supporting roller.

9. In apparatus for wrapping a length of pressure sensitive tape about an elongate article, a rotatable wrapping chuck having a radially extending jaw adapted to receive said elongate article while said wrapping chuck is in an initial position prior to the rotation of the same, said article being inserted into said jaw with an inltial bight of the tape thereon;

drive means for rotating said wrapping chuck to wrap tape around the article;

tape feed means to feed tape along a tape feed path toward the wrapping chuck, the trailing adge of said tape being adjacent said tape feed path; tape severing means including knife means, said knife means severing said tape for wrapping said article, said knife means and said tape feed path being adjacent opposite sides of said jaw when the chuck is in said initial position, said wrapping chuck r0- tatable toward the knife means to bring the trailing edge of said tape thereto and simultaneously pull a second length of tape across the chuck into position across the jaw when the chuck is in said initial position, said knife means cutting said first-mentioned length of tape along the trailing edge thereof on the periphery of the chuck. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 whehein constraining means is disposed within said jaw to receive said article annd to securely maintain said initial bight of the firstmetnioned length of tape thereon as the second length of tape is being brought across the wrapping chuck when the same is rotating toward the knife means.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said tape severing means comprises positioning means to move said knife means into contact with the trailing edge of the first-mentioned length of tape, said knife means cutting said first-mentioned length of tape on the periphery of the wrapping chuck, the severing of the tape occurring after the chuck has traveled through a predetermined arcuate path to carry said second length of tape across the chuck.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said positioning means comprises:

a cam associated with said drive means; and a cam follower trained on said cam and associated with said knife means, the cooperation of said cam with said cam follower causing the knife means to move toward the periphery of the chuck after the same has rotated through said predetermined arcuate path to sever said first length of tape and to move away from the wrapping chuck after the severing of the tape. 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: said constraining means comprises a pair of leaf springs resiliently biased toward each other, said leaf springs being spread apart as said article with the initial bight thereon is inserted therebetween, said leaf springs rotating with said wrapping chuck and thereby enabling a secure wrap to be formed around the article as the same is held outside the chuck to prevent rotation of the article;

said knife means rotatively mounted between a pair of support arms;

3,418,358 13 14 said cam including a lobe extending outward from the rotating wrapping chuck due to the frictional force periphery thereof, said cam 'follower varying in poof the rotating chuck. sition when moving on and off said lobe; and connecting means interposed between said arms and References Cted said cam follower to transmit said variation of po- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS sition of the cam follower to said support arms there- 2,834)499 5/1953 Semkow by causing the same to move in response thereto, the 3,0 1,3 4 19 2 Z 5 443 XR responsive movement of said arms bringing said knife means into contact with the tape on the pe- EARL M- BERGERT, Primary Ex minerriphery of the chuck and out of contact with the 10 EPSTEIN, Assistant Examiner chuck upon completion of severing of the length of tape, said knife means rotating around its own axis when cutting the tape on the periphery of the 156486, 522; 24210 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING A LENGTH OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE TAPE ABOUT AN ELONGATE ARTICLE, A ROTATABLE WRAPPING CHUCK INCLUDING DRIVING MEANS THEREFOR, SAID WRAPPING CHUCK HAVING A RADIALLY EXTENDING JAW ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID ELONGATE ARTICLE FOR WRAPPING THEREOF WITH A LENGTH OF TAPE WHILE SAID ARTICLE IS CONSTRAINED AGAINST ROTATION IN SAID JAW, TAPE FEEDING MEANS DRIVEN FROM SAID DRIVING MEANS FOR FEEDING A LENGTH OF TAPE ACROSS SAID JAW, MEANS FOR CONSTRAINING THE SO FED TAPE AS AN INITIAL BIGHT THEREOF ABOUT SAID ARTICLE WHEN THE SAME IS MOVED WITH SAID LENGTH OF TAPE INTO THE JAW OF SAID CHUCK, TAPE SLACK TAKEUP MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID TAPE FEEDING MEANS AND SAID CHUCK OPERABLE TO FEED ADDITIONAL TAPE DURING FORMING OF SAID BIGHT, SAID CHUCK BEING ROTATABLE BY SAID DRIVING MEANS WHILE SAID ARTICLE IS HELD AGAINST ROTATION TO EFFECT FURTHER WRAP OF SAID ARTICLE, SAID TAPE FEEDING MEANS BEING OPERABLE BY SAID DRIVING MEANS TO FEED TAPE ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CHUCK, MEANS COOPERATING 